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NBA Franchise Notes: Bucks' Lasry, Dinan Partake In Fan Appreciation Night

In Milwaukee, Charles Gardner notes Bucks co-Owner Marc Lasry and investor Jamie Dinan last night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center "greeted fans at the turnstiles and handed out T-shirts" before the season finale against the Celtics. Dinan said of their first year owning the team, "It's been really so much more enjoyable and rewarding than either of us really expected. A lot of it's because the team has done well. But a lot of it's just been coming to Milwaukee, meeting these great fans. We're really loving being here. We feel like kids again." Lasry and Dinan before the game, which was fan appreciation night, appeared at center court and "spoke to the crowd" alongside F Giannis Antetokounmpo (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 4/16).

CLAP YOUR HANDS, EVERYBODY: In Philadelphia, Bob Brookover notes 76ers Managing Owner Josh Harris' yesterday assessed the state of the franchise and "was still glowing despite the fact that this year's team finished one win worse than last year's team." Harris said, "I continue to be super positive about the management team that we have in place." He noted both GM Sam Hinkie and coach Brett Brown "exceeded expectations." Harris: "We continue to add capability that will provide long-run edge over the other 29 teams. Whether it be analytics, sports science, sleep, we're starting to build processes around all the little things that are going to make our team very good." Harris "would not give a time line for when the Sixers should be judged on wins more than anything else" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 4/16).

SIGN OF GRATITUDE: In N.Y., Frank Isola writes Knicks Owner James Dolan yesterday "rewarded the fans' loyalty and patience by giving away free food" for the season finale at MSG against the Pistons. It was a "nice gesture" after the team's three most influential employees -- President Phil Jackson, coach Derek Fisher and F Carmelo Anthony -- "didn't exactly give the boss or the fans much bang for his buck." Jackson's first full season as a top exec was, "to be fair, a disaster." His ability to evaluate talent "is a legitimate concern" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/16).

WHAT'S IN A NAME? YAHOO SPORTS' Kelly Dwyer noted the Wizards will join "over half the league" in not having their nicknames "directly placed in a logo." But things are "different with Washington" because "everyone hates the 'Wizards' nickname." The Bullets nickname is "far superior" to Wizards, but with a re-brand unlikely, this "appears to be a happy medium" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/15). ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said, "Now they will have a new logo of the Washington Monument that looks like a political campaign button. My fear is that Ted Leonsis will name them the Washington Monuments after his television network” ("PTI," ESPN, 4/15).

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